Carbide holder for acetylene generators



Dec. 25; 1923. 11,478,476

A. F. JENKINS.

CARBIDE HOLDER FOR AGETYLENE GENERATORS Filed Jam. 15 1919 Patented Dec.25, i923.

ALEXANDER FREDERICK JENKINS, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CARBIDE HOLDER FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

Application filed January 15, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER F. JEN- KINS, acitizen of the United States of America, residing in the city ofBaltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Carbide Holders for Acetylene Generators, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This application is in part a continuation of-that filedby me April 17,1918, Serial No. 229,109. H

The present invention relates to a car bide container or pocket;, forholding carbide for treatment with water in the generation of acetylenegas, the pocket herein referred to being employed in..the samecapacityas other carbide pockets known to the art, those shown in theapplication cited above and in my application, No. 229,107, filed April17, 1918 and my United States Patent 1,292,327. The various applicationsreferred to relate to carbide holders having perforated taperingpockets, i.-e., pockets of downwardlyreduced cross-section arranged instaggered and overlapping relation to give uniformity of generation ofgas and easy filling and emptying of. the pockets. By this arrangementthe carbide and ash are conveniently supported, allowing sufficient roomfor expansion in the consumption of the carbide forming the said refuseor ash which is of a considerably greater volume than the carbide. Byuniform generation I mean generation of gas in quantities bearing asubstantially uniform relation to the amount withdrawn.

In the various prior applications I have shown pockets of rigidmaterial. These pockets have, as already pointed out, importantadvantages in that they are easy to empty of the consumed carbide or ashwhich is inclined to adhere to the pocket, and they afford a large areaat the. top for support of the ash and liquid. Also the taper of theoverlying pockets provides an excessive clearance, making access to thepockets below for filling and emptying easy and convenient.

Along the lines of the development in this art thus defined,Ihavediscovered that Serial No. 271,216.

a flexible pocket which may be of separate interlocking members,preferably closed links, or otherwise made completely flexible, offersimportant advantages. Such a receptacle is adapted for arrangement inaccordance with the disclosure of my aforesaid copending applications,in overlapping relation to give generation at uniform pressure and in ahigh degree to contribute to all the advantages obtained by the variousarrangements of tapering pockets outlined in the above-citedapplications. But an important advantage, not inherent in the devicesthus disclosed, relates to the flexibility of the pocket, making itpossible to detach the ash, particularly that which tends to ad here tothe walls of the pocket, merely by striking it, thus changing theconfiguration of the walls of the receptacle and breaking and releasingany encrusted material which may adhere to them.

Another advantage of the flexible pockets is that they may be so made asto render the entire carbide holder reversible, that is, the holderbeing inverted in the process of emptying the ash, the pockets,relatively speaking, turn inside out and may be filled and operated inthis position, avoiding the extra step in the refilling operation whichconsists in returning the carbide container to upright position after ithas been emptied.

In the accompanying drawing 1 have illustrated a carbide containerconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a support with chain mesh pocketsfragmentarily shown for convenience in illustration.

Figure 2 illustrates my flexible mesh pockets applied to a supportcomposed of separator members.

- Referring to the drawing, the carbide container or pocket, which isthe subject of my invention, consists of a bag 20 of flexible mesh orseparate interlocking members shown in the form of closed or continuouslinks 21 which compose a fabric termed chain mesh. Each pocket issupported on an open frame. 22, preferably of wire or similarmaterial,the edge of the top opening in the bag 20 being secured to the frame inany convenient manner as by having the top links 27 of the mesh materialwhich forms the bag encircle the wire. The frame in turn is adapted tobe secured to any kind More particularly, the device illustratedconsistsof four, separators or two intersecting separators or plates 25 arrangedat 90 or any suitable number of plates at any corresponding angle.Between, on or applied to, the plates are supports 26. These arepreferably of wire or similar material, but may be otherwise formed,each one being adapted to support the mouth of a chain mesh bag 20 whichconstitutes the corresponding pocket.

In the form illustrated, which is the preferredconstruction, the toplinks 27 of the mesh forming the mouth of the bag or pocket, encirclethe wire or similarmaterial forming the frame, and the bag or pocketpreferably hangs freely from this frame,

'not being otherwise secured to the separa tor plates so that the pocketis free to yield when struck for the purpose of breaking up the ash, andalso is free to turn inside out when the carbide'holder is inverted inemptying, making it possible to fill the pockets in what may be. termedan invertedposition and avoid the necessity for returnin'g them to theoriginal or what may be termed the upright position, the wholecontainerbeing preferably'made symmetrical so thatthe upright. andinverted positions referred to are in fact indistinguishable. Thisfeature or advantage is not confined to the pocket illus trated inFigure 2, as the ocket shown in Figure 1 is equally capable of beingused in inverted position, and other types of'chain carbide pockets maybe so constructed,

The manner of using the pocketis obvious to those skilled in the art. Itis filled with carbide to which water is applied for generation ofacetylene gas by gradual immersion of the carbide in any manner. Themesh permits free entrance of the water and free escape of the water,giving every possible facility for uniform generation or uniformresponse to the demand, including quick flow of the water to the carbideand quick draining of the water from the carbide, which results inimmediate response of the generator to variation in the rate ofconsumption of the gas by giving a quick pick-up of generation andpreventing after-generation. Another and in fact a most importantadvantage of this type of pocket over those known in the art anddescribed in my copending applications is that already recited, i. e.,that the ash which. tends to ,encrust and adhere to the walls of thepocket maybe easily broken and released because of the complete fiexibility 9f the pocket py striking the pocket and changing its form i. e.,crushing it. Also, the oyerhanging ;pockets because of this flexibilitypermit easy access to those below for filling, etc, q 7

Having thus described a single apparatus embodying my invention, Idesire to have it understood that thefspec'ific't'erms are used inadescriptivqsens'e for the purpose of enabling those skilled in "the artto practice the invention and not withthegpurpose oflimiting the scopeof the protection to be granted. 7 1

What I claim the "desire to sachet H Letters Patent is"; 1. In anacetylene generator carbide holder, consisting of a flexible pocket-erseparate interlocking members and supporting means therefor. V I

2 In an acetylene generator a carbide holder, consisting are flexiblepocket of foraminous material and means for fsup holder consisting. offie-h'l foraniinons" pockets and shppgsrrihg the refon the pockets;being f e to turn inside out wheh the'holder 'i's hvertea, y y I 6. Inan acetylene generator a carbide holder consisting of flexibile rerrhahs pockets free to turn inside :oiit wh e'n the holder is nverted ahas phrah means therefor, the support beingalsoinve'ftible so that theholder when inverted for empty ing, can be "filled and used "in inverted'posi tiO'ii.

7. In an acetylene generator. a carbide holder consistin'g of aplurality of pockets composed of flexible foraiiiinoiis material, andmeans for supporting the fpocket sdin overlapping relation, 'saia'supporting being in the form of separator membersb etween which thepaths sar s placed.

8. In acetylene generator a carbide its at r

holder consisting of a plurality of pockets Signed by me at Baltimore,Maryland, composed of flexible foraminous material, December, 1918.means for supporting the pockets in overlapping relation, the pocketshaving a down- ALEXANDER FREDERICK JENKINS 5 Ward taper and being freeto turn inside Witnesses:

out so the apparatus can be used in inverted C. B. REDFIELD,

position. A. W. CARR.

